Growth promoter composition for animals

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a composition which includes a fungus and at least one growth-promoting component which is an organic acid, inorganic acid, animal feed antibiotic, conventional growth promoter or plant extract, prebiotic, probiotic, synbiotic, enzyme or herb. The fungus is present in an amount from about 50% to 99.9% by weight. The invention further relates to the use of the composition as an antimicrobial agent and to an animal feed including the composition and to a method for the improvement of growth and/or for reducing feed conversion and/or for improving feed value and/or for improving health and well-being of an animal by providing the animal with a feed including the composition.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a growth promoter composition suitablefor animals. The growth promoter composition according to this inventionis useful as an animal feed. The primary object is the improvement ofthe microbial ecosystem in the gastrointestinal tract resulting in anoptimization of the feed conversion ratio.

The present invention discloses further a process for improving theefficiency of feed utilization and/or for promoting the growth ofanimals in which the animal is fed a diet which comprises said growthpromoter composition.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The well being and health and hence the economic value of animals suchas livestock depends on a good-functioning and well-balanced microbialecosystem in the gastrointestinal tract of the host. Disturbance of thismicrobial eco-system by e.g. bacterial infection will ultimately resultin a decreased performance of the animal, often attended with infectiousdiarrhea. As a consequence, the feed taken up by the host is notefficiently converted.

A low FCR (Feed Conversion Ratio is the ratio of the amount of feedconsumed relative to the weight gain of an animal) indicates that agiven amount of feed results in a growing animal gaining proportionatelymore weight. The latter situation indicates that the animal is able toutilize the feed more efficiently.

One way in which the FCR of a feed is lowered is to influence thebio-regulatory process through administering traditional antimicrobialsor feed antibiotics. Those skilled in the art appreciate, however, thatantibiotic therapy for the treatment of numerous disorders and diseasesresults in the destruction of the intestinal microflora. It is necessaryto develop and use new antibiotics and mixtures thereof to the animalsas described in e.g. EP Patent 597167 which discloses the use of anantibiotic mixture of gentamycin and lincomycin.

An important draw-back, however is that many antibiotics applied to theanimals provoke resistance of the bacteria present in the animals andother microorganisms. Further, a number of the used antibiotics to theanimals are the same or chemically very closely related to thoseantibiotics which are used in the fight against diseases provoked bybacteria and other micro-organisms in humans. As such, there has been anincreasing concern in the public opinion that the resistance found inthe microorganisms in the livestock host should be transferred to thedisease provoking microorganisms living in human beings, wherefore thesewill not be fightable with the present human antibiotics at disposal.

Alternative feed additives to improve the animal's well-being and henceits ability to convert feed into food products are increasingly beingused and include feed acidifiers for improved protection of thedigestive tract against proliferation of pathogenic bacteria (WO Patent98/43634). Also very different types of additives such as fungi [e.g.Lentinus edodes (Shiitake)] have been reported for use in feedstock(U.S. Pat. No. 4,711,787) although no improved feed conversion has beendemonstrated.

With regard to the relative expensive cost factor of feed in theproduction of food-producing animals, it is clear that an additionalaspect of lowered feed conversions will directly improve theprofitability of a feed producer.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a composition whichprovides a low feed conversion ratio (FCR) without increasing the feedcost per unit weight. It is a further object to the present invention toprovide a composition which enhances growth. It is a further object ofthe present invention to provide a composition which improves themicrobial balance of the intestinal microflora. It is a further objectof the present invention to provide a method of enhancing weight gainand feed efficiency in an animal.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates in general to a composition comprising a fungusand at least one additional growth promoting compound selected from thegroup comprising organic acids, inorganic acids, animal feedantibiotics, conventional growth promoters, and plant extracts.

In particular, the invention relates to a composition comprising afungus and at least one growth-promoting component selected from thegroup comprising organic acids, inorganic acids, animal feedantibiotics, conventional growth promoters, and plant extracts, wherebysaid fungus is present in an amount from about 50% to about 99.9% byweight.

In another embodiment, the present invention relates to a compositioncomprising a fungus and at least one growth-promoting component selectedfrom the group comprising prebiotics, probiotics, synbiotics, enzymesand herbs.

In particular, the invention relates to a composition comprising afungus and at least one growth-promoting component selected from thegroup comprising prebiotics, probiotics, synbiotics, enzymes and herbs,whereby said fungus is present in an amount from about 50% to about99.9% by weight.

The invention further relates to methods for improving growth and/orreducing feed conversion and/or for improving feed value and/or forimproving health and well-being of an animal by providing said animalwith a feed comprising a composition according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used hereinhave the same meaning as commonly understood to one of ordinary skill inthe art.

In this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a”,“an”, and “the” include plural references unless dictated otherwise.

The term “feed conversion” is used to describe efficiency in animal feeduptake and refers to the units of feed consumed divided by the units ofanimal weight gain over a specific time period. The “Feed ConversionRatio” is the ratio of the amount of feed consumed relative to theweight gain of an animal.

The present invention relates to improved feed conversion activities ofanimals without concomitant substantial or significant stimulation offeed intake. Typically the feed intake is the same or decreased intreated animals as compared to untreated animals. New growth-promotingcompositions and methods for obtaining the above are provided.

As used herein the expression “improving the feed conversion” andcognate expressions such as “feed conversion improvement” refer toimproving feed utilization efficiency and/or improving growth rate. Thatis, in accordance with the present invention, treated animals (ascompared to untreated animals) can have substantially the same feedintake and grow at an increased growth rate, can have decreased feedintake and grow at substantially the same growth rate, or can havedecreased feed intake and grow at an increased growth rate. The term“growth” as used herein refers to a gain in weight.

The term “composition” according to the Invention is to be construed asbeing a feed additive.

In accordance with the present invention, in a first aspect, acomposition is provided which comprises a fungus and at least onegrowth-promoting component selected from the group comprising organicacids, inorganic acids, animal feed antibiotics, conventional growthpromoters, and plant extracts.

In a more preferred embodiment, the invention relates to a compositioncomprising a fungus and at least one growth-promoting component selectedfrom the group comprising organic acids, inorganic acids, animal feedantibiotics, conventional growth promoters, and plant extracts, wherebysaid fungus is present in an amount from about 50% to about 99.9% byweight.

Said growth-promoting component may be a single organic acid, a singleinorganic acid, a single animal feed antibiotic, a single conventionalgrowth promoter, a mixture of organic acids, a mixture of inorganicacids, a mixture of animal feed antibiotics, a mixture of conventionalgrowth promoters, a mixture of organic acids and inorganic acids, amixture of organic acids and animal feed antibiotics, a mixture oforganic acids and conventional growth promoter, a mixture of inorganicacids and animal feed antibiotics, a mixture inorganic acids andconventional growth promoters, a mixture of animal feed antibiotics andconventional growth promoters, a mixture of inorganic acids, organicacids, animal feed antibiotics and conventional growth promoters. Asused herein, the term “growth-promoting component” refers to a compoundor composition which exerts a growth-promoting activity or effect withina living vertebrate host, which excludes fungi. Said growth-promotingcomponent is usually (part of) a feed additive or feed supplement.

In another embodiment, the present invention relates to a compositionwhich comprises a fungus and at least one growth-promoting componentselected from the group comprising prebiotics, probiotics, synbiotics,enzymes and herbs.

The term “prebiotic” as used herein refers to carbohydrates. Certainnon-digestible carbohydrates, such as components of soluble dietaryfibre may stimulate the growth or activity of beneficial/probioticbacteria.

“Probiotics” as used herein are by definition living microbiologicaldietary supplements that have beneficial effects to the host throughtheir function in the digestive tract. In order to be effective theprobiotic micro-organisms must be able survive the digestive conditions,and they must be able to colonise the gastrointestinal tract at leasttemporarily without any harm to the host. Only certain strains ofmicro-organisms have these properties. Most preferred probioticmicro-organisms according to the invention include, but are not limitedto members of two bacterial genera: Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium.

The term “herbs” as used herein refers to a plant or plant part,including extracts and essential oils, characterized by medicinal,savory, or aromatic properties.

More in particular, useful growth-promoting components include but arenot limiting to prebiotics such as oligosaccharides including inulins,fructo-oligosaccharides, and galacto-oligosaccharides; probiotics suchas Bifidobacterium thermophilum and infantis, Lactobacillus acidophilus,bulgaricus, casei, lactis, plantarum, and reuteri, Bacillus subtilis andcereus, Streptococcus faecium, diacetilactus, and thermophilus,Enterococcus faecium and faecium, Torulopsia, Aspergillus oryzae, andStreptomyces; including their vegetative spores, non-vegetative spores(Bacillus sp.) and synthetic derivatives; synbiotics; enzymes such asacid proteases from Rhizopus rhizopodiformis, Aspergillus niger, and thegenus Tramates, and neutral to alkaline proteases from Bacillussubtilis, licheniformis, and natta; and herbs such as Mimosaceae andoregano, including extracts and essential oils thereof may be used as agrowth-promoting components.

The combination of fungus with a growth-promoting component as providedby the new compositions according to the present invention has asynergistic effect on feed conversion improvement leading to muchreduced FCRs.

Compared to FCR's obtained with single-growth-component feed additives,compositions of the present invention provide substantially higher dailyweight gain and substantially lower FCR. As used herein, the term“single-growth-component feed additive” refers to an additive comprisingat least one growth component within a single class of growth-promotingcomponents. The term “class” of growth-promoting components as usedherein refers to a group or set of growth components sharing commoncharacteristics and/or functionalities such as e.g. class ofantibiotics, class of prebiotics, class of probiotics, class ofsynbiotics, class of herbs, class of conventional growth promoters,class of organic acids, and class of inorganic acids.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the growth promotercomponent may be a single compound or a mixture of compounds within asingle class of growth-promoting components or mixtures of single or twoor more compounds from a single or two or more classes.

In one embodiment of the present invention, a composition is providedwherein the growth-promoting component is at least one componentselected from the group comprising organic adds and inorganic acids.Accordingly, the growth-promoting component of the feed additiveaccording to the present invention may be a single organic acid, asingle inorganic acid, a mixture of organic acids, a mixture ofinorganic acids or a mixture of organic and inorganic acids.

In a further embodiment, a composition is provided wherein thegrowth-promoting component is an organic acid. In a further embodiment,a composition is provided wherein the growth-promoting component is anorganic acid being a C₁₋₁₂ carboxylic acid selected from the groupcomprising unsubstituted carboxylic acids such as formic acid, aceticacid, propionic acid, butyric acid, valerianic acid, and caproic acid,substituted carboxylic acids such as adipic acid, maleic acid, succinicacid, citric acid, fumaric acid, tartaric acid, lactic acid, gluconicacid, malic acid, and ascorbic acid, including cyclic carboxylic acidssuch as picolinic acid. The organic acid component may be a singleunsubstituted carboxylic acid, a single substituted carboxylic acid, amixture of unsubstituted carboxylic acids, a mixture of substitutedcarboxylic adds and a mixture of unsubstituted carboxylic acids andsubstituted carboxylic adds including saturated, unsaturated, cyclic andaliphatic carboxylic acids and metal complexes and salts thereof. Alsosingle racemic forms and racemic mixtures may be used.

In a further embodiment, when added in feed for animals, usefulconcentrations of such carboxylic acids range from 0.05 eq/kg to 0.25eq/kg feed. In a further embodiment, concentrations of such carboxylicacids range from 0.10 eq/kg to 0.20 eq/kg feed. In a further embodiment,concentrations of such carboxylic acids range from 0.10 eq/kg to 0.15eq/kg feed. In yet a further embodiment, concentrations of suchcarboxylic acids range from 0.12 eq/kg to 0.18 eq/kg feed.

In yet a further embodiment, a composition is provided wherein thegrowth-promoting component is an inorganic acid including stronginorganic acids in small quantities such as perchloric acid, hydroiodicacid, hydrobromic acid, hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, and nitricacid and weak inorganic acids such as phosphoric acid, hydrofluoricacid, hypochlorous acid, and nitrous acid. Suitable concentrations ofweak and strong inorganic acids which are useful range from 0.1-0.3% to1-1.5% by weight.

In another embodiment according to the present invention, a compositionis provided wherein the growth-promoting component is an animal feedantibiotic. Non-limiting examples of useful animal feed antibioticsinclude avoparcin, bacitracin such as zinc bacitracin, chlortetracyclin,flavophospholipol (flavomycin), furadox, gentamicin, lasalocid,lincomycin, monensin, neomycin, oleandomycin, oxytetracyclin,sarimomoicin, spiramycin, sulfametazine, tetracycline, tylosin,virginiamycin, salinomycin, avilamycin and flavomycin. In a furtherembodiment, useful concentrations of an animal feed antibiotic rangesfrom 0.5 ppm animal feed to 250 ppm animal feed. In a furtherembodiment, useful antibiotic concentrations for animal feed includefrom 1 ppm to 150 ppm. In a further embodiment, useful antibioticconcentrations for animal feed include from 2 ppm to 100 ppm. In afurther embodiment, useful antibiotic concentrations for animal feedinclude from 2.5 ppm to 50 ppm. In yet a further embodiment, usefulantibiotic concentrations for animal feed include from 2.5 ppm to 5 ppm.

In another embodiment according to the present invention, a compositionis provided wherein the growth-promoting component is a conventionalgrowth promoter selected from the group comprising nitrovin, olaquindox,carbadox, and cyadox. Concentrations of such conventional growthpromoters ranges from 20 ppm to 150 ppm but usually range from 50 ppm to100 ppm.

In another embodiment of the present invention a composition is providedwherein the fungus is a basidiomycete. As used herein, the term“basidiomycetes” refers to mushrooms and macrofungi belonging to theclass Basidiomycotina, producing basidiospores. Non-limiting examples ofuseful basidiomycetes include genera belonging to the orders Agaricalesand Aphyllophorales, such as Armillariella mellea (Fr.) Karst,Tricholoma matsutake (S. Ito et Imai) Sing., Lentinus edodes (Berk.)Sing. and Shiitake, Coriolus versicolor (Fr.) Quel., Grifola gigantea(Fr.) Pilat, Favolus Arcularius (Fr.) Ames, Ganoderma (Reishi),Cordyceps, Coriolus or Grifola (Maitake), either alone or in anycombination with each other.

In a particular useful embodiment of the present invention, acomposition is provided wherein the fungus is Lentinus edodes, (Berk.)Shiitake.

In a further embodiment, the fungus provided in the compositionaccording to the invention can be used in all forms. According to theinvention a composition is provided wherein the fungus is in the form ofan extract, a derivative, a dried status or a crude status including anymixture of said forms. A particular useful embodiment provides acomposition wherein the fungus is a crude component selected from thegroup comprising spores, mycelium, fruiting bodies, products isolatedfrom cultivated fermentation broths, and entire mashed organisms, eitheras a single component or in any combination with each other.

Accordingly, the use of a composition according to present invention hasbeen proven to be particularly suitable for lowering feed conversionratio's and/or growth enhancement.

In a further embodiment, the compositions of the present invention maybe suitable for intestinal function improvement and/or carcass qualityimprovement. In a further embodiment, when fed to dairy animals such asdairy cows, goats and ewes, the feed additive composition of the presentinvention may improve milk production.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the composition according to thepresent invention comprises an amount from 50% to 99.9% by weight offungus, said fungus being basidiomycetes of which particular useful butnon-limiting examples include genera belonging to the orders Agaricalesand Aphyllophorales, such as Armillariella mellea (Fr.) Karst,Tricholoma matsutake (S. Ito et Imai) Sing., Lentinus edodes (Berk.)Sing. and Shiitake, Coriolus versicolor (Fr.) Quel., Grifola gigantea(Fr.) Pilat, Favolus Arcularius (Fr.) Ames, Ganoderma (Reishi),Cordyceps, Coriolus or Grifola (Maitake), either alone or in anycombination with each other; particularly useful are fungi beingLentinus edodes (Berk.) Shiitake. In a further embodiment, an amountfrom 70% to 99.9% by weight of fungus is comprised in a compositionaccording to the present invention. In a further embodiment, an amountfrom 85% to 99.9% by weight of fungus Is comprised in a compositionaccording to the present invention. In yet a further embodiment, anamount from 95% to 99.9% by weight of fungus is comprised in acomposition according to the present invention.

According to this specification, a composition is provided comprising afungus and at least one growth-promoting component. It is generallyrecognized by a skilled person In the art that supplemental ingredientsare being used, e.g. various additives such as amino acids, minerals,vitamins, enzymes, etc., with various objects, such as nutrientreplenishment, nutrient fortification, improvements of digestion andabsorption, disease prevention, etc.

In a further embodiment, a composition according to the presentinvention is particularly useful as a feed additive, particularly inlivestock feed. In a further embodiment, a composition according to thepresent invention is particularly useful for animal feed. In a furtherembodiment, a composition according to the present invention isparticularly useful for poultry and pig feed.

Accordingly, the use of a composition according to present invention hasbeen proven to be particularly suitable for lowering feed conversionratio's and/or growth enhancement.

Further, a composition of the present invention may be suitable forintestinal function improvement and/or carcass quality improvement. Whenfed to dairy animals such as dairy cows, goats and ewes, a compositionof the present invention may improve milk production.

It is a second aspect of the present invention to provide an animal feedcomprising a composition according to the present invention from 0.01%to 20% by weight and from 80% to 99.999% by weight standard animal feed.As used herein, the term “standard animal feed” refers to feed formeat-producing animals, i.e. feed that can be used in the animalhusbandry field and is suitable to be fed to meat-producing animals tosupply part or all of the meat-producing animal's nutrient requirements.Main ingredients of standard animal feed include but are not limited towheat flour, starch, dextrin, cereal grains such as corn, milo, etc.,oil seed meals, such as soybean meal, rapeseed meal, cottonseed meal,linseed meal, chaffs and brans, such as rice bran, de-oiled rice bran,wheat bran, fish meals, oils and fats, such as beef tallow, soybean oil,palm oil, coconut oil, and fish oil.

In a further embodiment, said animal feed comprises a compositionaccording to the present invention from 0.1% to 10% by weight. In afurther embodiment, said animal feed comprises a composition accordingto the present invention from 0.5% to 5% by weight. In a furtherembodiment, said animal feed comprises a composition according to thepresent invention from 0.1% to 5% by weight. In a further embodiment,said animal feed comprises a composition according to the presentinvention from 0.5% to 2% by weight.

According to the present invention, an animal feed is provided for useas feed for meat-producing animals. As herein used, the term “animals”refer to livestock animals including but not limited to cattle such asruminants, sheep, swine including pigs and hogs, horses, and poultry,and their progeny, such as sucking pigs, piglets, calves, lambs kids,foals and chickens etc.

Also fishes, such as eel, carps, trout, rainbow trout, yellowtail, seabream, silver salmon, gold fishes, colored carp, tropical fishes;shellfishes; crustaceans; are examples of the animals covered by thecomposition and/or animal feed of the present invention.

Also pets, such as dogs, cats, rabbits, hamsters, and their progeny areexamples of the animals covered by the composition and/or animal feed ofthe present invention.

In a further embodiment, an animal feed according to the presentinvention is used for poultry or pig feed, in particular during theearly life stages of said poultry and pigs. Non-limiting examples ofpoultry that may be considered in the present invention includechickens, ducks, geese, guinea fowl, peafowl, pigeons, and turkeys. Asused herein, the wording “during early life stage of poultry” refers toa life stage comprised between 1 day and 4 weeks. As used herein, thewording “during early life stage of pig” refers to a life stagecomprised between 1 day after birth and 4 weeks after weaning. In apreferred embodiment an animal feed according to the invention is fed topiglets during a period comprised between weaning and up to 20 kg.Further it can be dosed at pigs between 20 kg and slaughter. In apreferred embodiment an animal feed according to the invention is fed topoultry during a period comprised between 1 day and 4 weeks.

The composition of the present invention may be added either directly tothe animal's feed or may be added as a premix. The composition accordingto the present invention will mostly be present in a form of a drypowder or mini-granules but may also be present in humidified,pasta-like emulsion-like or liquid form. A powder additive may beprepared by dry-blending of the ingredients, but it may also be preparedby wet-blending of the ingredients followed by drying, grinding andpossible sifting. A mini-granulate may be prepared the same way althoughto begin with, a sufficient amount of liquid may be added of anappropriate kind (e.g. water) in order to obtain sufficient adhesionpower between the particles of the ingredients.

A further aspect of the present invention relates to a method for theimprovement of growth and/or for reducing feed conversion and/or forimproving feed value and/or for improving health and well-being of ananimal by providing said animal with a feed comprising a composition asprovided in this specification.

The term “reducing feed conversion” refers to providing the same feedintake and grow at an increased growth rate, or refers to providing adecreased feed intake and grow at substantially the same growth rate, orrefers to providing decreased feed intake and grow at an increasedgrowth rate.

The term “improving feed value” refers to the ability to improve thedigestibility of the feed and/or to release more metabolical energy froma given amount of feed.

The term “improving health and well-being of the animals refers to theability of the feed to stimulate a good-functioning and well-balancedmicrobial ecosystem in the gastrointestinal tract of the host.

Accordingly, the present invention relates to induction by feeding theanimal with the compositions of the present invention of changes in themicrobial ecosystem in the gastrointestinal tract of the animal in aspecific way resulting in an improved gastrointestinal ecosystem. Thetotal amount of enteric pathogens are in a first stage enumerated in thegastrointestinal tract, i.e. a selective enrichement of the entericpathogens within the lumen of the gastrointestinal tract, and in asecond stage, the enumerated enteric pathogens are very quickly excretedfrom the lumen of the gastrointestinal tract of the animal. As usedherein, the term “enteric pathogens” refers to an undesired populationof pathogens. As will be appreciated, there are a large number of suchpathogens including but not limiting to Gram negative bacteria likeSalmonella, Escherichia, Shigella, Klebsiella, Erwinia, Yersinia,Campylobacter, Helicobacter, Vibrio and Pseudomonas; Gram positivebacteria like Clostridium; viruses like Norwalk virus, Norwalk-likeviruses and Rotavirus; and protozoa like Crytosporidium, Entamoeba,Giardia, and Dientamoeba. The present invention would be suitable forthe suppression of these pathogens in the gastrointestinal tract ofanimals.

By fast elimination of enteric pathogens from the gastrointestinaltract, in a second instance, better performances, which reflect in dailygrowth and feed conversion of the treated animals are obtained. Theoverall growth promoting affect of the composition of the presentinvention is readily and clearly visible at the elution level of theenriched enteric pathogen population from the gastrointestinal tract ofthe animal.

The composition according to the invention, comprising fungi inconcentrations ranging from 50 to 99.9% by weight, provides a differenteffect compared to conventional compositions or feeds known in the priorart. The administration of the composition according to the presentinvention to animals allows for a specific sequential action, i.e. theenumeration of the enteric pathogens in the gastrointestinal tract ofthe animal prior to a wash-out of the enumerated enteric pathogens. Itis surprising that an increase in enteric pathogens in a first stage isnot detrimental to the growth and health of animals, but, in contrast,finally leads to improved animal growth and reduced feed conversionrates.

One activity of conventional feed compositions and animal feeds known inthe prior art consists of killing enteric bacteria. Another activity ofconventional feed compositions and animal feeds comprises blocking ofthe attachment sites of bacteria on the digestive tract. As aconsequence, such feeds disable bacteria to be attached to the tract andthe bacteria are washed out in a non-specific and non-selective way.However, conventional feed compositions and animal feeds do not enableto remove and wash out bacteria that are already attached to thedigestive tract. In contrast, the use of the specific amount of fungi inthe composition according to the invention provides such specific andselective wash out of enteric pathogens.

The term “specific” as used herein thus refers to the fact that thecomposition enables to detach bacteria from the intestinal wall and as aconsequence enables to wash out and excrete these bacteria.

The term “selective” as used herein refers to the fact that thecomposition and feed according to the invention will in first instancestimulate the development of enteric pathogens only and enumerate thetotal amount of these enteric pathogens in the lumen of thegastrointestinal tract.

Therefore, in another embodiment, the present invention relates to theuse of the composition according to the invention for a specific andselective wash out of enteric pathogens. In particular, the presentinvention relates to the use of the composition according to theinvention for a specific and selective wash out of enteric pathogens,wherein the enteric pathogens include the genera Escherichia,Salmonella, Shigella, Klebsiella, Erwinia, Yersinia, Campylobacter,Helicobacter, Vibrio, Pseudomonas as well as other Gram negativebacteria.

Furthermore, the present invention relates in another embodiment to amethod for the improvement of growth and/or for reducing feed conversionand/or for improving feed value and/or for improving health andwell-being of an animal by providing said animal with a feed comprisinga composition according to the invention, resulting in a sequentialaction of the specific enumeration of enteric pathogens prior to theirspecific excretion.

The composition according to the invention enables efficient and quickexcretion of enteric pathogens from the digestive tract and efficientlylowers the concentration of enteric pathogens in the digestive tract ofthe animals. As a consequence, the composition and animal feed accordingto the invention, more efficiently improve health and well-being. Sinceenteric pathogens are excreted also healthier animals are obtained. As aresult of the synergistic action of the composition of the presentinvention, far less diarrhea and much improved performances areobtained. Therefore, in yet another embodiment, the present inventionrelates to the use of the composition according to the invention for thepreparation of a medicament in the treatment of diarrhea.

EXAMPLES

The following examples of the invention are exemplary and should not betaken as in any way limiting.

Example 1 Influence of Lentinus edodes on the Zootechnic Performance ofPoultry

20×40 one day old chickens were provided with following feeds: controlfeed, control feeds supplemented with a growth-promoting component,control feed supplemented with 0.5% fungi (Lentinus edodes) and controlfeed supplemented with a growth-promoting component and with 0.5% fungi(Lentinus edodes). As used herein, the term “control feed” refers to astandard animal feed for meat-producing animals, i.e. feed that can beused in the animal husbandry field and is suitable to be fed tomeat-producing animals to supply part or all of the meat-producinganimal's nutrient requirements. Water and feed were supplied ad libitum.At the end of the trial, chickens were weighed and feed conversionratio's were determined (Table 1). Microbial contents in thegastrointestinal tract were determined by plate counting. TABLE 1Influence of Lentinus edodes in combination with other substances onchicken performance Daily growth Diet (g/chicken/day) FCR control 53.161.61 control + MCFA 55.98 1.53 control + formic acid 52.18 1.55control + phophorous acid 52.23 1.56 control + Salinomycine 54.06 1.60control + Avilamycin 53.99 1.59 control + inulin 51.09 1.65 control +Bacillus sp. 53.22 1.61 control + Oregostim 53.03 1.66 control +Lentinus edodes 53.22 1.60 control + MCFA + Lentinus edodes 56.71 1.52control + formic acid + Lentinus edodes 53.03 1.60 control +phophorous + Lentinus edodes 54.88 1.57 control + Salinomycine +Lentinus edodes 55.18 1.63 control + Avilamycin + Lentinus edodes 54.341.59 control + inulin + Lentinus edodes 52.97 1.62 control + Bacillussp. + Lentinus edodes 53.22 1.59 control + Oregostim + Lentinus edodes53.93 1.57

From Table 1, it is clear that the combination of the use of Lentinusedodes with a growth-promoting component has a synergistic effect ongrowth and feed conversion ratio of the animal. We conclude thatcompared to FCR's obtained with single-growth-component feed additives,compositions of the present invention provides substantially higherdaily growth and substantially lower FCR.

Example 2 Influence of Lentinus edodes on the Zootechnic Performance ofPigs

The present example relates to the effects of a composition according tothe invention comprising a fungus at and least one growth promotingelement on piglet performance of piglets in the phase 7-20 kg.

Commercial available weaning and starter feeds were used. During thefirst 2 weeks, a weaning feed was given to the piglets. From the thirdweek till the end of the trial, i.e. at an average weight of 20 kg, thepiglets received a starter feed. The trial feeds used are illustrated intable 2. During the whole trial period the piglets were fed ad libitum.The piglets under study were 120 weaned barrows and sows, with an age of28 days at weaning. In the stable, 12 pens were present which containedeach 10 piglets. For each trial, 3 replicates of 10 piglets were used.Ventilation and heating was automatically controlled. In each pen, 1drinking nipple was present for water supply. Piglets were distinguishedand weighed individually. They were allocated randomly to the differentgroups so that the average weight of each group was equal. A total of120 animals was monitored. The following parameters were monitoredduring the trial:

-   -   the feed intake per trial group (measured at the end of the        trial)    -   the weight of the individual animals (was measured at the        beginning and at the end of the trial)    -   the feed conversion ratio per trial group was calculated    -   veterinary treatments and    -   mortality.

Results of this experiment are indicated in Table 2. TABLE 2 Effect ofthe different feed compositions comprising Lentinus edodes with orwithout an additional growth promoting element on the performances ofpigs Number of Daily growth veterinary Mortality Diet (g/pig/day) FCRtreatments (*) (%) Control 340 1.73 30 6.6 control + Lentinus edodes 3351.74 32 10.0 control + formic acid 351 1.69 28 10.0 control + phophorousacid 346 1.69 30 6.6 control + Salinomycin 362 1.70 26 6.6 control +Avilamycin 365 1.65 25 3.3 control + inulin 330 1.78 32 10 control +Bacillus sp. 345 1.70 27 6.6 control + Oregostim 349 1.71 26 6.6control + MCFA's 374 1.65 15 0.0 control + Lentinus edodes + MCFA's 3681.70 16 3.3 control + formic acid + Lentinus edodes 345 1.65 21 3.3control + phophorous acid + Lentinus edodes 352 1.62 20 6.6 control +Salinomycin + Lentinus edodes 355 1.69 20 0.0 control + Avilamycin +Lentinus edodes 367 1.72 21 0.0 control + Inulin + Lentinus edodes 3401.70 20 6.6 control + Bacillus sp. + Lentinus edodes 338 1.73 19 6.6control + Oregostim + Lentinus edodes 359 1.71 18 6.6(*) the number of veterinary treatments refers to the sum of alltreatments performed on the animals during the total period of thetrial.

1. A composition comprising a fungus and at least one growth-promotingcomponent selected from the group comprising organic acids, inorganicacids, animal feed antibiotics, conventional growth promoters, and plantextracts, whereby said fungus is present in an amount from about 50% toabout 99.9% by weight.
 2. The composition according to claim 1, whereinthe growth-promoting component is selected from the group consisting oforganic acids and inorganic acids.
 3. The composition according to claim2, wherein the growth-promoting component is an organic acid.
 4. Thecomposition according to claim 3, wherein the organic acid is acarboxylic acid selected from the group consisting of C₁₋₈ substituted,unsubstituted, saturated, and unsaturated carboxylic acids.
 5. Thecomposition according to claim 4, wherein the carboxylic acids are usedin concentrations of 0.05 eq/kg to 0.25 eq/kg feed.
 6. The compositionaccording to claim 1, wherein said inorganic acid is selected from thegroup consisting of strong inorganic acids such as perchloric acid,hydroiodic acid, hydrobromic acid, hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, andnitric acid and weak inorganic acids such as phosphoric acid,hydrofluoric acid, hypochlorous acid, and nitrous acid.
 7. Thecomposition according to claim 6, wherein said inorganic acids are usedin concentrations of 0.1-0.3% to 1-1.5% by weight.
 8. The compositionaccording to claim 1, wherein the growth-promoting component is ananimal feed antibiotic.
 9. The composition according to claim 1, whereinthe growth-promoting component is a conventional growth promoterselected from the group consisting of nitrovin, olaquindox, carbadox,and cyadox.
 10. Th composition according to claim 1, wherein the fungusis selected from genera within the Basidomycetes.
 11. The compositionaccording to claim 10, wherein the fungus is selected from generabelonging to the order Agaricales or Aphyllopharales of Homobasidae,such as for example Armillariella mellea (Fr.) Karst, Tricholomamatsutake (S. Ito et Imai) Sing., Lentinus edodes (Berk.) Sing. orShiitake, Coriolus versicolor (Fr.) Quel., Grifola gigantea (Fr.) Pilat,Favolus Arcularius (Fr.) Ames, Ganoderma (Reishi) Cordyceps, Coriolus orGrifola (Maitake), either alone or in combination with each other. 12.The composition according to claim 11, wherein the fungus is Lentinusedodes, (Berk.) Shiitake.
 13. The composition according to claim 12,wherein the fungus is in a crude form comprising spores, mycelium,fruiting bodies, products isolated from cultivated fermentation broths,and entire mashed organisms.
 14. A composition comprising a fungus andat least one growth-promoting component selected from the groupconsisting of prebiotics, probiotics, synbiotics, enzymes and herbs. 15.The composition according to claim 14, comprising a fungus in an amountof about 50% to 99.9% by weight.
 16. A method of using a compositionaccording to claim 1 as an animal feed additive.
 17. A method of using acomposition according to claim 1 for lowering the feed conversion ratio.18. A method of using Use of a composition according to claim 1 aspoultry or pig feed, in particular during the early life stages.
 19. Amethod of using a composition according to any of claim 1 for a specificand selective wash out of enteric pathogens.
 20. The method according toclaim 19, wherein the enteric pathogens include the genera Escherichia,Salmonella, Shigella, Klebsiella, Erwinia, Yersinia, Campylobacter,Helicobacter, Vibrio, Pseudomonas as well as other Gram negativebacteria.
 21. A method of using a composition according to any of claim1 for the preparation of a medicament in the treatment of diarrhea. 22.An animal feed comprising a composition according to any claim 1 in anamount from about 0.01% to about 20% by weight.
 23. A method for theimprovement of growth and/or for reducing feed conversion and/or forimproving feed value and/or for improving health and well-being of ananimal by providing said animal with a feed comprising a compositionaccording to claim
 1. 24. The method according to claim 23, resulting ina sequential action of the specific enumeration of enteric pathogensprior to their specific excretion.